ScotCaribbean Carnival Kicks Off Celebration at Toronto Pearson

SCOTIABANK TORONTO CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL

ATTENTION:

City, Assignment, Photo, News, and Lifestyle Editors
Media Advisory/Invitation July 21, 2011
Caribbean Carnival Kicks Off Celebration at Toronto Pearson

- Chef Roger Mooking, the Bahamian Junkanoo Legends and Steel Pan Players Welcome Guests -

Toronto, ON – Get ready to jump up Toronto! In celebration of the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival 2011, Toronto Pearson is welcoming guests in style to the city’s world renowned celebration of Caribbean culture. On July 27, Toronto Pearson will transform into an island oasis, bringing the best of Caribbean music, food and culture to Canada’s premier airport.

As part of Toronto Pearson’s renewed focus on guest experience, media are invited to jump start the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival weekend while the airport surprises and delights guests arriving into Terminal 3 with Toronto chef Roger Mooking, and the world renowned Bahamian Junkanoo Legends from the Bahamas on hand to entertain Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival guests as they arrive in Toronto.

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

1. Performance by world renowned Bahamian Junkanoo Legends from the Bahamas that starts at departures and will make its way to arrivals in Terminal 3. Band member John Zonicle will be onsite and available for interviews.

2. Sampling of Caribbean fare, including salt cod fritters prepared by one of Canada’s premier chefs, Roger Mooking, available for interviews by appointment after the demonstration

3. Steel Pan Players

4. Interviews with Toronto Pearson and the Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival representatives

DATE: Wednesday, July 27
TIME: 3:45 p.m.

· 3:45pm – The Bahamian Junkanoo Legends start at Terminal 3 departures, performs en route to Terminal 3 arrivals

· 4:00-4:15pm – The Bahamian Junkanoo Legends arrive at stage area in Terminal 3 arrivals

· 4:15pm – Roger Mooking cooking/demo/sampling

WHERE: Toronto Pearson, Terminal 3, International Arrivals. For drivers, park in the Terminal 3 garage and you will be given a parking voucher at the event. Directions to Terminal 3 parking can be found here: http://www.torontopearson.com/en/toandfrom/directions/

WHO:

Roger Mooking has earned a reputation as one of Canada’s premier Chefs by developing a culinary philosophy built on perfect execution of globally inspired culinary traditions. As a third generation restaurateur and chef he began his formal training through the George Brown Culinary Management Program where he earned Top Student Honors diploma and is now the Chair of the Professional Advisory Committee.

Roger continued his training at Epic Dining Room in Toronto’s world renowned Royal York Hotel before co owning and consulting on many food and beverage operations.

He is the Host and Co-Creator of his own internationally broadcast television series Everyday Exotic. He is also the Co-host of the upcoming series Heat Seekers airing on Food Network Canada.

In addition he is the recording artist and creator of Soul Food; a unique food and music project released by Warner Music. For Roger, music and the epicurean world are seamless. One feeds the body, the other the soul; it is all food in all its various forms.

The Bahamian Junkanoo Legends: born from a group of Bahamians missing Junkanoo music - the sweet sound of their home. This group simply wanted to share the most recognizable culture and distinct music from the country of their birth to their new home. After a 20 year absence from the Festival's parade, the Association of Bahamians in Canada have resurrected the core group with a contingency of 50 "Legends" flying up from the Bahamas.

About Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival

The Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival is an exciting three-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts. Now in its 44th year, it has become a major international event and the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America. As Carnival is an international cultural phenomenon, the great metropolis of Toronto and its environs will come alive as the city explodes with the pulsating rhythms and melodies of Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Chutney, Steel Pan and Brass Bands. The Festival Management Committee oversees the running of North America’s largest outdoor festival.

Corporate sponsors of this year’s festival include: Scotiabank, The Toronto Star, Sway Magazine, The Grid, CTV, CP-24, The Canadian Federal Government, The Province of Ontario, City of Toronto, Tourism Toronto, The Greater Toronto Airports Authority, Ontario Place, Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario Science Centre, Toronto Public Library, Yorkgate Mall, Liberty Grand, FLOW FM, The Caribbean Camera Newspaper, Toronto-Lime.Com, Urbanology Magazine and Grace Kennedy Foods.

For complete listing information, visit www.torontocaribbeancarnival.com, the only official website for the Festival. Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival Festival Office is located at 263 Davenport Avenue. Lower Level, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Tel., 416-391-5608; Fax, 416-391-5693; Email: info@torontocaribbeancarnival.com

About Toronto Pearson International Airport

The GTAA is the operator of Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada's biggest airport and one of the largest airports in North America in terms of passenger and air cargo traffic. In 2010, Toronto Pearson handled an estimated 31.9 million passengers and is ranked 4th largest in international passenger traffic in North America. The focus of the GTAA continues to be on competitiveness, growing the airport's status as an international gateway, meeting the needs of our guests and ensuring the long-term success of the organization, our airline customers and the regional economy.
CUTLINE:
Top: Celebrity cook Roger Mooking hit it out of the park while cooking on CP24 (and shamelessly promoting the GTAA taste of the carnival.
Bottom: Mas Dancers stand behind Mooking's spread for Breakfast TV.

For more information, contact:

For Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival:
Stephen Weir
Stephen Weir & Associates
stephen@stephenweir.com
416-489-5868; 416-801-3101

Craigg Slowly
Stephen Weir & Associates
CraiggSlowly@gmail.com
416.333.6781

For Toronto Pearson International Airport:

Noor Marzook
Edelman
noor.marzook@edelman.com
416-849-8914


Issued By:

Stephen Weir
Stephen Weir & Associates | stephen@stephenweir.com
or sweir5492@rogers.com
2482 Yonge Street, Unit 45032, Toronto, ONT.
CANADA. M4P 3E3
Tel: 416-489-5868 | cell: 416-801-3101
www.stephenweir.com